Angel Trains has signed contracts to procure and finance 20 new Class 350 Desiro electric multiple-units (EMUs) worth a total of £131million.

The new rolling stock contract will see Siemens plc supply ten Class 350/3 units to strengthen the existing London Midland fleet and ten Class 350/4’s to First TransPennine Express.

Angel Trains already has 937 Desiro vehicles in the UK and the new order for the two train operators for 80 vehicles, taking Angel Trains’ total fleet to 1,017, means the leasing company now leases vehicles to all of the 19 franchised train operators in the UK.

Kevin Tribley, Chief Operating Officer for Angel Trains, says: “Angel Trains has always been supportive of expanding our standard platform Desiro EMU portfolio to increase capacity and the finalisation of these contracts with London Midland and TPE is a significant milestone. We are also delighted to add First TransPennine Express to our list of customers.”

The Desiro fleet has been a huge success in the UK, since Angel Trains first invested in the units back in 2000. Since delivery, the Desiro trains have delivered over nine years of service with an excellent record of reliability.

The new EMUs will be employed to strengthen London Midland’s existing commuter services into London and along the West Coast Main Line while TPE will use the trains on newly electrified services between Manchester – Scotland once infill electrification schemes are completed by Network Rail.

Kevin adds: “The combining of orders for London Midland and First TransPennine Express with an existing train specification means we can deliver value for money by reducing the whole-life cost of operating the fleets.

“This is also a great example of how, as a lessor, we are able to add additional value, financially and operationally, into the rail industry.”

The new trains will start to enter service in winter 2013, with the final batch for London Midland expected to enter service in April 2014.